Oven Baked Chicken Breasts (Print Version)

Tender herb-crusted chicken breasts baked juicy in the oven. Simple, healthy, and ready in 35 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Poultry

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 6 oz each

→ Marinade & Seasoning

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp salt
04 - ½ tsp black pepper
05 - 1 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1 tsp paprika
07 - ½ tsp dried thyme (or Italian seasoning)
08 - ½ tsp onion powder

→ Optional Garnish

09 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
10 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
03 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, thyme, and onion powder.
04 - Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast.
05 - Place the seasoned chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each piece for even cooking.
06 - Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
07 - Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing to retain juices.
08 - Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The spice rub creates a golden crust that makes you forget this is essentially a healthy meal prep staple.
  • It takes ten minutes of hands on work and then the oven does everything while you set the table or pour a glass of wine.
02 -
  • Invest in an instant read thermometer because guessing is how dry chicken happens and no one deserves that.
  • Pounding the thicker end of each breast to an even thickness changed my results more than any seasoning trick ever did.
03 -
  • The biggest secret is the resting period because cutting too early means all those beautiful juices end up on the board instead of in the meat.
  • If your chicken breasts are particularly large, add two or three extra minutes rather than increasing the temperature.

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